In computing, a vector processor or array processor is a central
processing unit (CPU) that implements an instruction set where its
instructions are designed to operate efficiently and effectively on large one-
dimensional arrays of data called vectors. This is in contrast to scalar
processors, whose instructions operate on single data items only, and in
contrast to some of those same scalar processors having additional single
instruction, multiple data (SIMD) or SWAR Arithmetic Units. Vector processors
can greatly improve performance on certain workloads, notably numerical
simulation and similar tasks. Vector processing techniques also operate in
video-game console hardware and in graphics accelerators.